JPH07159904A - Photographic image printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the image quality of a printed image by correcting the image quality of the photographic image based on photographic information. CONSTITUTION:Each image on a film 7 is automatically read by a CCD 231 and stored by an image memory 32, and also, the photographic information recorded on the film 7 is read by a photographic information reader 24. The image data stored by the image memory 32 is outputted to a printer part 4 after a prescribed image processing is performed, and then, it is printed out on a recording paper 8. In the case of performing the image processing, the contents of a prescribed image quality correction (contour emphasis and contrast emphasis, etc.) corresponding to the photographic information are set by a system controller 5, and the image quality of the printed image is improved by performing the prescribed image quality correction processing by an image processing part 34 in accordance with the image quality correction contents.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic image printing apparatus for printing out a photographed film image on recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a photographic image printing apparatus for film images, which automatically feeds a developed film, picks up an image taken on each frame, and prints out the picked-up image on a recording paper, A photographic image printing apparatus has been proposed which reads trimming information recorded on a film corresponding to each frame and performs a predetermined trimming process on the captured image based on the trimming information (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-100323). .

The trimming information relates to the size of the print image and is information such as L size, panoramic size, and cinema size. According to the printing apparatus, the image of each frame of the developed film is extracted for the print size designated by the print information in the image processing of the captured image, and is automatically printed out in the predetermined print size. It has become. For example, if the trimming information of the panorama size is recorded corresponding to the image to be printed, the captured image of the image is a panoramic image (image of the central half area in the vertical direction) in the image processing. Is extracted and this image is printed out on a panoramic size recording paper.

[0004]

By the way, the trimming information is magnetically recorded in, for example, a magnetic recording portion provided outside the photographing area of the film, and not only the trimming information but also the trimming information is recorded in the magnetic recording portion. Shooting date, shooting distance,
Various shooting information such as exposure control value (aperture, shutter speed), presence / absence of flash emission, etc. can be recorded.

Therefore, in the image processing of the picked-up image, if the predetermined image quality correction processing can be performed based on the above-mentioned photographing information, the image quality can be improved at the time of printing, and the finish of the printed image can be made more suitable. For example, when the captured image is out of focus, a clear image can be improved by performing predetermined edge enhancement correction based on the captured information recorded corresponding to this image.

However, the photographic image printing apparatus described above only corrects the size of the print image based on the trimming information recorded on the developed film, and corrects the image quality of the captured image based on the shooting information. Not not. Further, the above publication does not disclose any technology relating to such image quality correction, and does not describe the content suggesting it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background and problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic image printing apparatus capable of improving the image quality of a printed image by performing predetermined image processing based on photographing conditions. To do.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in a photographic image printing apparatus for printing out a photographed image on a recording paper, an image capturing means for capturing the image and capturing information for capturing the image capturing information of the image. An image capturing means, an image quality correction setting means for setting the content of the image quality correction of the image from the captured image information, and an image quality correction of the image captured by the image capturing means based on the set image quality correction content. And an image quality correcting means for performing.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the photographed information such as the photographed distance, the exposure control value (aperture, shutter speed), the presence / absence of flash emission, etc., which is recorded corresponding to the image, is taken in while capturing the image photographed on the film Is captured, and in the image processing of the captured image, predetermined image quality correction is performed based on this shooting information.

For example, when the shooting distance is long, a predetermined contour enhancement correction is performed, and the contour is enhanced to improve the image with high clarity. Then, the image after the image quality correction is printed out on the recording paper.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of a photographic image printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a film applied to the photographic image printing apparatus according to the present invention.

The photographic image printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a printing apparatus for film images which reads an image of a recorded film and prints it out, for example, on a sheet of recording paper.

The printing apparatus 1 is capable of so-called album printing, in which not only the images of each frame of the film 7 are printed out one by one, but also the images of a plurality of frames are printed out on one sheet. (Hereinafter referred to as a film image), a film scanner unit 2 for automatically reading a film image, a film image read by the film scanner unit 2 is subjected to predetermined image processing, and is temporarily stored in an image memory 32. An image processing unit 3 for generating image data to be printed out (hereinafter referred to as print data) from the stored film image; a printer unit 4 for printing out the print data generated by the image processing unit 3 onto a recording paper 8; Each part 2
To a system controller 5 for controlling the driving of the recording medium 4 to 4 and an input unit for inputting various information such as the size of the recording paper 8, the recording direction, the number of recordings, the presence or absence of album printing, the type of the film 7 and various commands such as the start of printing. It is composed of 6.

The film scanner unit 2 projects each film image of the film 7 made of a cartridge type film, a roll film or a strip film obtained by dividing the roll film, onto the image pickup surface of the image reading unit 23. Near the perforation of the film 7, and a film feeding unit 22 that automatically feeds each film image of the film 7 to a predetermined reading position, an image reading unit 23 that reads each film image of the film 7, and a perforation of the film 7. It is composed of a photographic information reading device 24 for reading the DX code optically recorded at a predetermined position and various photographic information recorded in the magnetic recording section.

As shown in FIG. 2, the film 7 has perforations 701 and 701 'formed on both sides along the side edges, and a photographing area 702 where an image is photographed between the perforations 701 and 701'. A magnetic recording unit 703 is provided for recording shooting information corresponding to a shot image of a frame. In addition, a plurality of DX codes 7 including bar codes are formed on the side edges of the perforations 701.
04 are repeatedly formed at predetermined intervals.

The photographing information is various information regarding photographing such as photographing date / time, photographing distance, exposure control value (aperture value, shutter speed), presence / absence of flash emission, continuous photographing and subject brightness. The magnetic recording portion 703 is formed by coating a strip-shaped magnetic paste having a predetermined width on the lower portion of the photographing area 702. Then, the photographing information is recorded in the magnetic recording unit 7 by the information recording device provided in the camera at the time of photographing.
03 magnetically recorded.

The light source unit 21 has a lamp 211 and a light emission control circuit 212 for controlling the light emission amount of the lamp 211, and illuminates the film 7 with a predetermined light emission amount based on a control signal from the system controller 5. To do. The film feeding unit 22 includes a feeding roller 221 and the feeding roller 22.
Drive motor 222 for driving 1 and the drive motor 222
When the film image is read, the control circuit 223 is used to feed the film image one frame at a time to the reading position based on a control signal from the system controller 5.

The image reading section 23 reads the film image set at the reading position, an area sensor 231, a driver 232 for controlling the driving of the area sensor 231, and the film image on the image pickup surface of the area sensor 231. It includes an optical system 233 for projecting a light image of. The image reading unit 23 photoelectrically converts the optical image of each film image into an electric signal and reads the electric signal, and outputs the image signal forming the film image to the image processing unit 3.

In the area sensor 231, pixels composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix of M rows × N columns, and R, G, B color filters are arranged in a predetermined pattern at each pixel position. Color CCD (Char
ge Coupled Device) and the like. The area sensor 231 is composed of a monochrome type CCD, and an optical filter of three colors R, G, and B and a filter drive circuit for driving the optical filter are provided between the area sensor 231 and the film, and a film image is displayed in R and G. , B may be separated and imaged separately. Alternatively, a line sensor may be used as the image sensor, and the line sensor and the film 7 may be moved relative to each other to capture an image.

The driving of the driver 232 and the optical system 233 is controlled by the system controller 5. In addition, the recording unit 7 read by the photographing information reading device 24
Information from No. 03 is inputted to the system controller 5, and the photographing information recorded on the film 7 is detected by the system controller 5.

The image processing unit 3 A / D converts the image signal input from the film scanner unit 2 into A / D.
A D converter 31, a RAM (Random Access Memo) that stores the image signal (hereinafter referred to as image data) converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 31 and the print data.
image memory 32 composed of ry), a memory 33 composed of a ROM (Read only Memory) in which character characters are stored in advance, an image processing unit 34 which performs predetermined image processing on the image data to generate print data, and It has a D / A converter 35 for D / A converting the print data generated by the image processing unit 34 and outputting it to the printer unit 4, and takes in the film image based on a control signal from the system controller 5. Generates print data.

Further, the image processing section 34 converts the character information such as the title inputted from the input section 6 into a character character and combines the character character and the print image to generate print data. When performing album printing, the character characters and the plurality of image data stored in the image memory 32 are combined according to a predetermined print format to generate print data for album printing. Further, the image processing unit 34
In the image processing, a predetermined image quality correction process is performed as necessary based on the shooting information of each frame read by the shooting information reading device 24. Details of this image quality correction processing will be described later.

The printer unit 4 includes a buffer 41 for temporarily holding print data, a recording paper feeding unit 42 for feeding the recording paper 8, an ink ribbon feeding unit 43 for feeding the ink ribbon 434, and thermal transfer. Type printer head 44
An image is formed on a recording sheet 8 such as a sheet or an OHP sheet based on print data output from the image processing unit 3 based on a control signal from the system controller 5.

The printer head 44 has a print head for one line to several lines, for example. The recording paper feeding unit 42 is composed of a paper feed drum 421 that feeds the recording paper 8, a drum motor 422 that rotationally drives the paper feed drum 421, and a motor control circuit 423 that controls the drive of the drum motor. Has been done.

The print data generated by the image processing unit 3 is output to the printer unit 4 in units of one line to several lines, and this print data is temporarily stored in the buffer 41. The printer unit 4 reads the print data from the buffer 41, and at the same time as the reading of the print data, the recording unit 8 of the roll sheet or the cut sheet loaded on the paper feeding drum 421 and the feeding of the ink ribbon 434 are fed. At the same time as feeding, the printer head 44 presses the ink ribbon 434 against the recording paper 8,
An image composed of the print data is transferred and formed on the recording paper 8. Then, the image formation for each line and the feeding of the recording paper 8 are alternately repeated to print out all the print data on one recording paper 8.

The system controller 5 has a memory 51 composed of a ROM or the like, and the memory 51 stores a program of a print data generation processing routine corresponding to each of the print formats.

Next, the printing operation of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the main flow of the printing operation, and is a flowchart showing the control of the printing operation when the film image of the film 7 is taken in and printed out on the recording paper.

When the film 7 is loaded in the film feeding section 22 and a print start signal is inputted from the input section 6, the leading frame of the film 7 is fed to a predetermined image reading position, and this feeding feeds photographing information. The reading device 24 is moved relative to the magnetic recording unit 703 of the film 7 and the shooting information corresponding to the image of the first frame is read (# 1). Then CC
The film image of the leading frame is captured by D231, and the image data of this captured image is temporarily stored in the image memory 32 (# 2).

Subsequently, whether or not the image quality correction processing is necessary is determined from the photographing information (# 3), and if the image quality correction processing is required (#
YES in step 3), the contents of the necessary image quality correction are set (#
4). Subsequently, after the image data is subjected to predetermined image processing such as γ correction and white balance (# 5), it is determined whether or not the image quality correction processing is performed (# 6).

If there is an image quality correction process (YES in # 6)
S), after the set predetermined image quality correction process is performed (#
7), print data is generated, and this print data is stored in the image memory 32 (# 8).

On the other hand, if the image quality correction processing is not performed (YES in # 6), the image data is subjected to the above image processing without being subjected to the image quality correction processing, and then the print data is generated. Is stored in the image memory 32 (# 8).

Then, the generated print data is sequentially output to the printer unit 4 in units of one line to several lines and printed out on the recording paper 8 (# 9). When the printout of all the print data is completed, the print data is printed. The operation ends.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a contour enhancement correction process for enhancing the contour of a subject in the subroutine of the first embodiment of the image quality correction process.

Whether or not the edge enhancement correction is necessary is determined based on the information on the photographing distance or the information on the continuous photographing. In the case of the information on the shooting distance, when the shooting distance is equal to or longer than a preset reference distance (for example, 2 m), the edge enhancement correction is set as the image quality correction processing. This is because when the shooting distance is short, the main subject is relatively clear, but when the subject distance is long, the focus becomes unfocused and the image may be out of focus. It is intended to improve the bokeh.

The above-mentioned reference distance is not limited to 2 m, but any appropriate value can be set. The reference distance may be fixed to a fixed value, but a plurality of reference distances may be switched and set in combination with other photographing information. For example, in combination with the subject brightness condition, when the subject has a low contrast, the focus may be unclear even at a short distance, so the reference distance is switched to a smaller value (for example, 2 m to 1.8 m), and a closer distance is obtained. The edge enhancement processing may be performed on the image taken at a distance.

When the continuous shooting information is used, the contour enhancement correction is performed on the second and subsequent images that are continuously shot regardless of the subject distance. This is because the subject of continuous shooting is usually moving, and it is considered that the second and subsequent images of continuous shooting are often out of focus because shooting is prioritized. By enhancing the contour, the blur of the image is improved.

In the present embodiment, the contour emphasis correction of the picked-up image is performed by a method of sharpening the image by subtracting the Laplacian of the image from which the image is blurred (hereinafter referred to as a blurred image). There is.

The above method assumes that the blur of the image is caused by the diffusion process of the Laplacian of the blurred image, and reduces the blur of the blurred image by subtracting the Laplacian of the blurred image from the blurred image.

If f (i, j) is the density data (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) of the pixel at the point (i, j), this pixel data f
The Laplacian ∇ ² f (i, j) for a digital image composed of (i, j) (i = 1 to M, j = 1 to N) is expressed by the following approximate expression (1).

[0040]

[Equation 1]

Equation 1 is the Laplacian ∇ ² f (i, of the point (i, j)
j) is the density of the point (i, j) and the point (i, j) and four points (i + 1, j), (i-1, j) and (i) that are adjacent in the horizontal and vertical directions. i, j +
1) and (i, j-1) are represented by the density difference from the average value.

Therefore, from the above formula 1, the pixel data f ′ (i, j) forming the digital image without blurring is calculated by the following formula 2.

[0043]

[Equation 2]

FIG. 4 shows M × N pieces of all pixel data f (i, j).
Is a flow chart for performing the arithmetic processing of the above-mentioned Equation 2 for.

When this flow chart is called, first, the count values i and j of the counters I and J are reset to "0"(# 10). The counter I counts the number of rows M, and the counter J counts the number of columns N. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the count value j of the counter J has reached the number of rows N (# 11). If the count value j is not N (YES in # 11), the count value of the counter I is further increased. It is determined whether or not i has reached the number N of columns (# 12), and if the count value i is not N (YES in # 12), the arithmetic processing of the contour emphasis correction shown in the above-mentioned Equation 2 is performed. (# 13).

Then, the count value i of the counter I is incremented by 1 (# 14), and the next pixel data f
The process returns to # 12 to perform the edge enhancement correction for (i, j). Then, by the loop processing of # 12 to # 14, when the calculation processing of the contour enhancement correction is completed for the pixel data f (i, j) for one column, and the count value i of the counter I reaches the number of columns N (# 12 No.), the process proceeds to # 15, the count value i of the counter I is reset to “0”, the count value j of the counter J is incremented by 1, and the pixel data f (i, j) of the next column is increased. Then, the process returns to # 11 to perform the edge enhancement correction.

Thereafter, the contour correction calculation of the pixel data f (i, j) is performed in column units by the loop processing of # 11 to # 15, and the contour emphasis correction is performed on the pixel data f (i, j) of all the columns. When the arithmetic processing is completed and the count value j of the counter J is N
(NO in # 11), M × N pieces of all pixel data f
It is determined that the calculation process for (i, j) has been completed, and the calculation process for the edge enhancement correction is completed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a contrast enhancement correction process for enhancing the contrast of a subject in the subroutine of the second embodiment of the image quality correction process.

Whether or not the contrast enhancement correction is necessary is determined by the brightness of the subject, and more specifically, it is determined by the information on the exposure control value or the information on the flash emission. According to the information of the exposure control value, for example, when the aperture is wider than f5.6 and the shutter speed is 1/60 seconds or less, it is determined that the image was taken in a dark place, and the contrast enhancement correction is set as the image quality correction process. . It should be noted that the judgment reference value of the exposure control value with respect to the brightness of the subject is not limited to the above setting value, and an appropriate value can be arbitrarily set.

According to the information on the flash emission, even if it is determined that the contrast enhancement is required by the exposure control value, if the slow sync photography is performed by the flash emission, the contrast between the subject and the background is appropriate by the flash light. Since it is considered that the image was photographed at, contrast enhancement correction is prohibited.

Film images taken in the dark are
Since the density of the pixel data f (i, j) is considered to be concentrated in the middle of the density gradation range as a whole, the contrast enhancement in this case compresses both end parts of the density gradation range of the digital image. Then, the intermediate range is expanded. For example, in the density conversion characteristic of FIG. 6, the density conversion characteristic is changed to the density conversion characteristic.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the calculation processing of contrast enhancement correction. FIG. 5 shows an arithmetic process for converting the density of each pixel data f (i, j) according to the density conversion characteristic of FIG.
Assuming that (i, j), the image data f ′ (i, j) is expressed by the following mathematical expression 3.

[0053]

[Equation 3]

In the above equation 3, the pixel data f (i, j) is f (i, j).
When <20, it is compressed to a value of “0” and 220 <f
When (i, j), it is compressed to a value of "255", and 20≤f
When (i, j) ≦ 220, 0 ≦ f (i, j) ≦ 255 is expanded.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG.
# 20 to # 25 are changed to # 10
Corresponds to # 15. The calculation procedure of each pixel data f (i, j) is exactly the same as that of the contour emphasis correction, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The above contrast enhancement correction was performed when the subject was dark, but the brightness range of the film image is C
If the dynamic range of CD41 is exceeded, the bright and dark areas in the film image will be CC
Since the dynamic range of D41 is compressed to the upper limit level and the lower limit level and cannot be reproduced accurately, it is preferable to perform the contrast enhancement correction even in such a case.

When the camera has the multi-photometric function and the maximum brightness value and the minimum brightness value are recorded as the photographing information, whether or not the contrast enhancement correction is necessary is determined based on the brightness information, and the contrast enhancement correction is necessary. If it is determined that the content of the predetermined contrast enhancement correction is set.

The necessity of the contrast enhancement correction is determined by comparing the brightness difference between the maximum brightness value and the minimum brightness value with a preset reference value, and if the brightness difference is equal to or larger than the reference value,
Perform predetermined contrast enhancement correction.

The content of the contrast enhancement correction is to enhance the contrast of both the bright and dark end portions of the luminance range of the film image and improve the image quality of these portions.
A bright range and a dark range of the density are expanded, and an intermediate range of the density is compressed.

Specifically, for example, in the density conversion characteristic of FIG. 6, the density conversion characteristic is converted into the density conversion characteristic.
Image data f'after density conversion by this density conversion characteristic
(i, j) is represented by the arithmetic expression shown in the following Expression 4.

[0061]

[Equation 4]

In the above equation 4, the pixel data f (i, j) is f (i, j).
When <20 and 220 <f (i, j), these density ranges are stretched by 1.5 (30/20, (255-202) / (255-220)) times, and 20 ≦ f (i , j) ≦ 220, this density range is compressed 0.86 ((202-30) / (200-20)) times.

In the above embodiment, the density gradation value 20,
At 220, the density gradation range is divided into three areas of a bright area, a dark area, and an intermediate area, but the boundary value of these areas is not limited to the above-mentioned density gradation value, and may be appropriately. The value of can be set.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the second embodiment of the photographed image printing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an interface 9 for data input is provided in place of the film scanner unit 2 in FIG. 1, and the interface 9 is connected to an image data output device such as a computer 10 or an image scanner. It has become.

In the second embodiment, a print image is obtained by subjecting a film image read by an image scanner or a film image input via the computer 10 to a predetermined image quality correction process as necessary based on photographing information. It will improve.

In the second embodiment, a film image and shooting data are input from the computer 10 or the like by communication.
The image processing and the printing operation after receiving the film image and the photographing data in the printing apparatus 1 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the image quality correction at the time of printout of each film image or album print of a plurality of film images has been described, but not limited to the album print, all the array patterns suitable as index materials are used. It can also be applied to the case of displaying multiple film images.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a photographic image printing apparatus that prints out a photographed image on recording paper, the photographic information recorded corresponding to each image is taken in, and in image processing, predetermined image quality correction processing is performed as necessary based on the photographic information. Since it is applied, it is possible to easily and surely obtain a print image of a suitable image quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a photographic image printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of a film.

FIG. 3 is a main flowchart showing a printing operation of the photographic image printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a subroutine of a first embodiment of image quality correction processing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a subroutine of a second embodiment of image quality correction processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing density conversion characteristics.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the photographic image printing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printing Device 2 Film Scanner 21 Light Source 211 Lamp 22 Film Feeding 23 Image Reading 231 Solid-state Image Sensor (CCD) 24 Image Information Reading Device 3 Image Processing 31 A / D Converter 32 Image Memory 33 Memory 34 Image Processing unit 35 D / A converter 4 Printer unit 41 Buffer 44 Printer head 5 System controller 51 Memory 6 Input unit 7 Film 8 Recording paper 9 Interface 10 Computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a photographic image printing apparatus for printing out a photographed image on a recording paper, an image capturing means for capturing the image, and a capturing information capturing means for capturing the captured information of the image. Image quality correction setting means for setting the contents of the image quality correction of the image from the shooting information,
A photographic image printing apparatus comprising: an image quality correction unit that corrects the image quality of an image captured by the image capturing unit based on the set image quality correction content.